Avadayar Koil

Avadayar Koil, previously known as "Thiruperunthurai"
is an important Shivasthala located 8 miles from the Arantangi railway
station. The sculptural work of the temple is exquisite. It is perhaps the
best architectural marvel in South India. Although the figures carved are
seen everywhere in southern temples, still the workmanship and the vivid
portraiture of this temple are worth seeing.

History Of The Temple
The history of the temple is not clearly known; but it is believed that
the treasure given by the Pandyan king for the purchase of horses could
have been spent for the construction of the temple at Tirupperunturai by
Manickavachakar, who devoted a larger part of his time in the worship of
the Lord.

Legend Connected With The Temple
In times past, a Pandya king brought 300 priests from Benares to attend
the temple services here and to honour them he wanted to present gold
brocade shawls to them. While distributing he found one in excess and he
searched for that priest in the crowd. An aged priest came forward and
claimed that robe. On the next day, the king was astonished to find that
garment, wrapped round the deity. Atmanadha was the priest who claimed
that excess robe.

The king had given the priests lands of sustenance. But in later days a
Kurumba chief Lundakshan seized those lands by might. The then reigning
king wanted some proof to show that the land belonged to the priests. At
that distance of time, no papers were available. Lundakshan merrily
remarked that the proof that the land was his say in his intimate
knowledge of the land, "Even if you dig to the length of a palm tree,
you won't get a drop of water" he said. Just then an aged priest came
forward and struck the earth with a crow bar. In the first stroke itself
water gushed out. The king restored the land to the priests. It is
needless to say that the aged priest was none else but Atmanadha.

Unique Phenomena
In South India two shrines stand apart by a unique phenomena. They are
Chidambaram and Avadayar
Koil. In Chidambaram God
reveals himself in three states, as a Linga (also spelt as lingam), with
the form as a Divine Dancer and Ether (Rahasyam).

In Avadayar Koil, the God is bereft of any form. After passing through
several thresholds devotees stand before sanctum and peep in hoping to
have a glimpse of the Linga (also spelt as lingam), as is the case in all
other temples. But it is empty! Only a peeta is formed and devotees are
asked to pay obeisance to it. The bottom most peeta is the Sakti peeta and
it represents the fusion of Shivam and Skati for realization of the
Supreme truth. Since no Linga (also spelt as lingam) or idol is
consecrated here, the Lord is known by the name of Atmanadha- Lord of the
Soul.

Idols Of Other Gods Within The Temple
Inside the temple there is an idol of Lord Vinayaka (also spelt as
Vinayak) with 11 hands, an idol of Goddess Kali and an idol of Lord
Virabhadra with 8 arms holding the sula athwart his body. There is also an
idol of Manickavachakar, which is worshipped with all ceremonial rites and
rituals. Avadayar Koil is a saivite shrine.

Yet, the religious tolerance has enabled the patron to incorporate
Narasimha - the Lion God of Vaishnavite character. Seated in "Arda
Padmasana", with manifold arms, he is seen in tearing out the
entrails of Hiranya. Nearby stands Prahalada with devotion and fear
chalked out in his face.

Interesting Facts Related To The Temple
The construction of this temple is that the rays of the setting sun
always fall on the sanctum sanctorum although it is inside three
Prakarams. Another important feature here is the Panchakshara Mandapam. It
is also known as "Kanakasabhai".

In the first sector Panchakshara mantra is constituted. It is customary
for pilgrims to repeat atleast 108 times the mystic syllable. In the next
sector are 81 padams, 224 mantras arranged as a four petalled lotus. For
those interested in Saivism, this temple offers a splendid opportunity.

HOW TO GET THERE

Rail:The nearest railway station is Arantangi
railway station. Road: There are regular buses to the temple from
Pudukkottai.

WHERE TO STAY

Accommodation is available at the Dharmashalas and the
small budgeted hotels at the place.